Question about Porper's big shaver and little shaver

Claudiogs

Claudiogs

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello Azers!

I would like some advice from anybody who has used this items:

Porper's little shaver and big shaver.

Are these items worth buying? Which one is the best? Are they friendly to use?

I'm actually living in Guatemala and there's no professional cue tip installer in the country (Not a single one), so I deicided that I would do my own installation.

I'm actually having the most trouble with the trimming part of the tip, so I'm looking for any tool that can make my life easier.

What other instruments would you recommend for cue tips installation?

Thanks!
 
I'm sure there's advice here but this should go to the Ask the Cuemaker.

I'm told that the Big Shaver won't accept 14mm tips so they would have to be trimmed.
You also have to be careful as with any tool.

Here's what I do if I don't have the time or can't find a repair guy. Purchase a Stanley #199 or 209 Fixed blade (not retractable) utility knife for about $6. Sand the glue side 100 grit. Presoak with Loctite gel super glue once soaked in then apply a thin layer and put it on the ferrule. Hold for 30 seconds with your finger. Now with the 199 knife lay the blade flat against the ferrule and start cutting off the overhang as best you can. The more time you take the less the next step which is sand the rest. Before starting with this take some masking tape or electritians tape and wrap the ferrule and wood to protect it from the paper. Try to use only one layer of tape. Replace tape as you sand it off. 30 or 40 minutes its perfect.
 
Thank you 3kushn and twal for answering!

But Twal, could you be a little more specific? Is this tool easy to use? I noticed it's quite expensive for a simple tool so it should be very useful. Does it come with a manual? And finally would you recommend it to a friend?

Thanks!
 
I have both the Porper Big Shaver and Little Shaver. They both work well though the plastic set screw on mine has some issues after years of use and no longer tightens enough to trim 12mm or smaller tips. I also use a cue top rapid sander to get the ferrule nice and fat for the new tip.
 
Go with a Williards tipping machine. Best tool if you don't have a lathe . :thumbup:
 
dr9ball said:
I have both the Porper Big Shaver and Little Shaver. They both work well though the plastic set screw on mine has some issues after years of use and no longer tightens enough to trim 12mm or smaller tips. I also use a cue top rapid sander to get the ferrule nice and fat for the new tip.
Click to expand...

I have had both for many years. and I too recommend using the rapid sander to get a nice flat and square surface. One other item you will need is a good tool to firmly set the tip while the glue dries.

The willard tipping machine has always caught my eye but the price point has never been low enough to warrant buying for personal use. If you're going to to charge folks for tips then maybe you could justify the expense. I have no idea how efficient it is but I bet it works better than just using the big shaver.

I have put a lot of tips on myself using these tools! Nowadays I pay the $30 for the kamuii and call it good....getting lazy I am! ;)

Ken
 
I don't even own a cue that's worth what the Willard's tiping machine costs...

I can't afford it...

I need something more economic...

Thank you all for your advice, but no one has answered if they would recommend buying any of these tools other than the Willard's...

I don't want to mess up my cue shaft or the tips because it's very hard for me to get them again... I'm talking about 2 weeks or so to finally have them in my hands, not to mention the expenses.

If anybody else knows any other method I would appreciate some advice.

Thank you all!
 
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Claudiogs said:
I don't even own a cue that's worth what the Willard's tiping machine costs...

I can't afford it...

I need something more economic...

Thank you all for your advice, but no one has answered if they would recommend buying any of these tools other than the Willard's...

I don't want to mess up my cue shaft or the tips because it's very hard for me to get them again... I'm talking about 2 weeks or so to finally have them in my hands, not to mention the expenses.

If anybody else knows any other method I would appreciate some advice.

Thank you all!
Click to expand...
Cost verses Price= Price is a one time thing and Cost is a lifetime thing. What will it cost you to have to deal with a bad tip job for the rest of you life. Alot more that the williards machine does.
Ask around here on AZ for a used Williards machine. Usually go for about $250. You will do great work and probably make your money back in no time.
the way I see it, You cant afford not to have one. Good luck either way you go. Have a great one:thumbup:
 
Claudiogs said:
I don't even own a cue that's worth what the Willard's tiping machine costs...

I can't afford it...

I need something more economic...

Thank you all for your advice, but no one has answered if they would recommend buying any of these tools other than the Willard's...

I don't want to mess up my cue shaft or the tips because it's very hard for me to get them again... I'm talking about 2 weeks or so to finally have them in my hands, not to mention the expenses.

If anybody else knows any other method I would appreciate some advice.

Thank you all!
Click to expand...

Allow me to be a little more direct....

Buy one...buy both

They both work well.

In addition I recommend the rapid sander to get a nice flat square surface. Without proper tools a square surface is hard to attain.

Ken
 
Thank you all for your advice...

I think I'll have to save some money for the Willard.

In the meantime, I hope I don't have to replace any cue tip.
 
Sounds like it may be a worthwhile investment if there is no one around to pay to work on tips.... Capitalize on that market :)
 
Tip Replacement

The Porper Big Shaver works well and is all you need.

The rapid tip sander is also highly recommended to perpare the new surface for the glue and tip.

Other than these two, all you need is tips, glue and a rubber band.


I have installed tips successfully with far less. Rapid tip sander or lathe - though - are a must. No need to buy a lathe just for tips.


I also have a little shaver, and it works alright. I would save the big shaver is a little easier to trim the sides.
 
I'm bringing back this from the old pages to let you know that I purchased a Porper Big Shaver and it was very disapointing...

I'm playing with a 11.75mm shaft and the Shaver won't even adjust to this diameter...

I tried later with a short ferrule 12.75mm shaft and the plastic screw, that holds the shafts in position, left a terrible mark all around the shaft...

It is definitely not a useful tool when it comes to those specific problems I mentioned above.

So... If anybody else wants to purchase one of this items I warn you to carefully inform yourselves first.

Now I'm gonna try to find a Willard to give it a try and I'll let you know...
 
3kushn said:
I'm sure there's advice here but this should go to the Ask the Cuemaker.

I'm told that the Big Shaver won't accept 14mm tips so they would have to be trimmed.
You also have to be careful as with any tool.
Click to expand...

I have both and 14mm tips are not a problem. I will say that with the Big Shaver i have trouble getting tips trimmed to 12mm and smaller.
 
I have a Porper mushroom grazer and cut-rite. They are OK tools. I use the grazer to cut it down for the cut-rite. Both don't handle small tips well. I imagine it's similar to other tools across the Porper line.
 
The giant pencil sharpeners have always worked great for me, but you must be very careful not to graze the ferrule. You can trim your tip in seconds.

I bought the generic rapid tip sander from china and it's crap - don't be cheap, buy the branded one. The only use I ever got out of the Big Shaver was to level the ferrule, which it's really rather good at. There's a bit you stick your ferrule into, give it a couple of twists, and voila! - flat ferrule.
 
You can re-tip a cue using a razor blade, an emery board, glue, and a rubber band. It just takes time and care.

I bought a Willard's Tipping Machine about 20 years ago and it took a bit to get over the $200+ price then. It makes the job much easier and quicker. Looking back, it was a very worth while investment that has paid for itself many times over in time and money.
 
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